President Joe Biden has decided to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy in order to monitor the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The White House announced this decision late Wednesday, citing the need for the President to direct the federal response to the historic fires.
California Governor Gavin Newsom reported that the wildfires have already claimed at least five lives, with the situation described as one of complete devastation. President Biden had been in Los Angeles meeting with emergency personnel and had approved a Major Disaster declaration for California before making the decision to cancel his trip.
The President was scheduled to travel to Rome to meet with Pope Francis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Additionally, a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was planned for Friday. Discussions during the trip were expected to focus on advancing peace efforts globally and providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities.
First Lady Jill Biden was also set to accompany the President on the trip and meet with World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain to discuss increased humanitarian aid initiatives.
This is not the first time domestic issues have disrupted President Biden's foreign travel plans. In October, a trip to Germany and Angola was postponed due to a hurricane, and just this week, a visit to the Coachella Valley was canceled as the wildfires intensified.
President Biden, who received a briefing from local officials in Santa Monica, emphasized the government's commitment to supporting firefighting efforts and assisting in the recovery process. He assured that the federal government would provide all necessary resources to contain the fires and aid in reconstruction.
Despite the cancellation of his international trip, President Biden remains focused on addressing the urgent needs arising from the wildfires in California.
